Collage Diva

Dancing in the Shadows and Peppermint Breezes

One of my favorite subjects is a crisp white building against a blue bird sky. It is visually refreshing like the cool minty taste of a York Peppermint Patty ---- oooooooh.

This is precisely the sound I made when I photographed this subject. I oooh and ahhh, and I get very excited when I have my camera in hand. My heart gets beating fast and you'll hear me say to Claudia when I get like this that there is a river dance happening inside my chest.

Of course I couldn't resist this shot - cracked paint, achromatic color scheme, interesting shadows, and well the subject - now who doesn't love windows and doors?

The bright sun and cool crisp day were the perfect ingredients for catching shadows. Check out the impression left by a gorgeous tree.

There are the branches on the tree reaching over to tickle the solid form of the tree on the right - love it!

With all of the looking up I did that day, I also remembered to look down and captured this self-portrait. 

Claudia and I stopped for a moment to attempt some shadow puppets. Mine (the one on the left) resembles a llama sporting a fat goiter and Claudia managed some bunny ears.

I feel so much PASSION and JOY when I go on outings like this and even when I relive the moments posting my photos here onto this blog. Did you catch my latest True North Arts post on passion and joy? I introduce some of the cool people I met this last year while out on my outings who bubble over with their own passions. I also share some ideas and resources that will help you to hone in on your own passion and living your best possible life.

I have many more cool photos to share from this outing.  Be sure to visit me again tomorrow.

Until then, you'll find me dancing in the shadows. Won't you join me?

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Looking Up!

Yesterday I spent the day in Portsmouth, NH with my dear friend Claudia. Claudia and I love to go out on outings and discover places and capture the details with our cameras. We both love Portsmouth and it is one of our favorite destinations.

It was a really cold morning, the wind stinging my face. We were in Market Square and Claudia reminded me to "look up." We had done the "Portsmouth Looking Up" Tour a year ago - it is a book that shows you different parts of the city when you look up. So there we were with our faces quickly numbing and looking up. We both spied this lace in a window and could see people sitting at a table.

We both wondered what it was.

"I want to see inside there." said Claudia

"Let's see if we can figure out what it is and get in there." I said.

We looked around but there was only a door to an architectural firm and a couple of retail shops underneath the window. We went into one of the shops and the store clerk pointed us in the direction of a new restaurant.

As we left the store and turned the corner we saw this board and without hesitation went inside where we were warmly greeted. We said we were looking for their upstairs and Scott, a very friendly and jovial chap said, "That is right where I was going to take you. Come hither." As we climbed the stairs, I quickly replied, "I'm a hithering."

We hadn't planned on eating at that moment, but couldn't resist the warm environment with delectable aromas. One look at the menu and we knew we landed at our first stop.

The room we had spied from the square was in fact the restaurant's bar. It was so bright and sunny. The staff were so friendly and fun. We fell in love with the adorable bartender - she was a little sprite who loves photography and jazz music just as we do.

We started with dark roasted coffee while we waited for our food. 

As I looked around, I couldn't help but notice the shadows.

And it was fun to see this lace up close and from a different perspective.

I spied more shadows cast upon the side of the bar. Shadows was to be the theme for my day - these were among the first of my cool shadow shots.

We were totally blown away by the food. For $12 you get the most savory plate. Claudia ordered the french toast. The sausage was delectable and the fruit actually tasted like summer!

I love eggs so I opted for the crab, asparagus, wild mushroom, goat cheese omelette with salad and baguette. Oooooh the baguette was perfect - crispy outside, chewy inside. I loved that the salad was sans dressing. So perfect. I savored combination bites and enjoyed every little morsel.

As we descended the stairs to head out, we were immersed in the most delicious of smells. You know you are in a good restaurant when you are full with good food and the smells are still enticing. It was the perfect way to begin our adventure.

I thanked Claudia for reminding me to "look up" and Claudia thanked me for my "adventurous spirit."

I have many more photos to share of shadows and cracked paint, interesting architectural and classic New England seaside details. So be sure to swing by here each day this week.

Until then keep looking up!

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

PS - A Google search landed me on this video of the place. Check them out! Be sure to visit their website, michellesonmarketsquare.com

Opening and Closing Doors

Bless those who challenge us for they remind us of doors we have closed and doors we have yet to open.

~Native American Prayer

What doors are you ready to open?

Swing by my True North Arts blog to download a gorgeous permission slip for your journal. It is designed to get you thinking about what you want to embrace, explore, and try and what you are ready to let go of.

My Faerie Mermaid

Deb LaPointe of Griffinhill made me this charming faerie mermaid.

The mermaid is sitting in a "spa" that is heated by a flame. Look below and you'll see the glow from the flame. Now how cool is that? We mermaids do enjoy a steamy hot tub from time to time.

Looking down on the sculpture offers an interesting perspective. I love all of the curved lines and levels.

Every angle of this piece is captivating.

I can get lost in the details.

The faerie mermaid is looking for her Mr. Wonderful. She can't quite see him, even though she knows he is close by.

If you look closely, you'll catch a glimpse of her Mr. Wonderful. Hopefully he will find his way up to the steamy hot tub, I can see her mermaid tail is wagging in eager anticipation!

I adore my faerie mermaid. To give you an idea of scale, she is only about 1-1/2" tall and the overall structure is about 9-1/2" tall. I'm feeling like pretty lucky to have this treasure. I love that it was custom made just for me!

To see more of Deb's Faerie dwellings, check out my blog post HERE. Be sure to listen in on the 10 minute audio interview. Deb and I enjoyed a chat about her work and some of what she has learned over the years in making this magical masterpieces. Don't be shy about contacting Deb about her faerie dwellings. I know she would like to see them go to some really great homes. Each one is a unique one-of-a-kind treasure and reasonably priced. Visit her website at www.griffinhill.net.

Enjoy!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Follow Your Star

I woke up to the sound of church bells ringing from a few streets away. I remembered that today Epiphany would be observed in church. When I think of the Magi following a star not knowing where they were heading, I too feel like I'm being guided to a place I've never been. Epiphany in one sense refers to recognizing the divine within.

I find myself doing research for my day job and I'm always struck when I come across the idea of witnessing Christ in others. Each time I read this I am reminded that each one of us is divine and beautiful. One of the best gifts we can give each other is recognizing this light within. This is why I often sign off with the word, Namaste, for it is recognizing and honoring this light within each of us.

I am graced with an uncanny sense of direction. Without maps or a gps I have found my way when "lost" by trusting my intuition. As I look out onto 2012, I feel called to follow my own star, to listen to my intuition, and to recognize the divine in everyone I meet along the way.

Thank you friends for sharing this journey with me. A journey is best when shared with others.

I honor the light within you, Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Three Horses

Look deep within the cavern and you'll find three horses. One will take you further into the cavern where you will experience an intimacy that you've never known. Ride the second horse and it will take you out of the cavern to explore many new landscapes. Look to the third horse for a gentle and steady ride, he will be your constant companion and offers you the most beautiful ride of your life.

Which one will you ride?

It is another day on this wonderful journey called life.

Embrace it!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Epiphany

Today is the Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas. We've commonly heard of the story of the three wise men visiting the newborn Christ bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Last week a dear friend of mine who is an esthetician suggested that I try frankincense. I have two white spots, one on each eyelid. Known as xanthomas, these white spots erupted a few years ago due to hypercholesterolemia. Although my cholesterol levels are now at healthy levels (losing weight and changing my diet was the key), these spots remain. The sight of them really bothered me - they looked like two headlights glaring back at me reminding me of how I didn't take care of myself. Looking into having them removed, the insurance company treats it as a cosmetic issue. Hence the plastic surgery costs would be out of pocket. Most of my friends say they don't even notice it. I do my best to cover them up with make-up. In recent weeks, I've made peace with these spots and chalk it up as evidence of how I've lived. When my friend approached me last week about the possibility of this essential oil as a treatment, I was open to try it, but not worried about the outcome. 

I did a little research on frankincense and have learned that it has so many medicinal qualities, it has been used to treat everything from dental disease to skin conditions, to respiratory complaints and digestive troubles - to name but a few. A woman we know used it to remove a cutaneous horn that she had growing from her neck. It is not only an anti-inflammatory but is calming and an anti-depressant. 

It is no wonder that this essential oil was presented as a gift for the new baby Jesus. I've been applying it diluted in olive oil onto one of the spots and have added a drop or two into my facial cream. Although I see no difference in the spot on my eyelid, my skin is so hydrated and smooth which is saying something for this cold winter weather. I have also felt the calming effects. 

I was chuckling with some friends earlier in the week as I was telling them my frankincense story. We often joke that I'm the "church lady" - working for the church and all, but now I'm beginning to smell like church. Who would have thought that I would have my own frankincense story the week of Epiphany?

I'm cracking up over here. What I know for certain is that I am open to epiphanies or as Oprah calls them, a-ha moments.

May your day be filled with lots of divine inspiration!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Feeling Lucky

Each year I join my family on New Years Day for dinner. We begin by clicking glasses filled with extra dry champagne and toasting to the year ahead. We always have the same dinner of roast pork and sauerkraut - I think my dad's wife would feel it bad luck to change it.

Our meal is always finished by sharing the good luck marzipan pig. I remember one year quite vividly as a child so excited about the pig. My stepmother didn't like me too much in those days. I was a quiet and shy girl and my dad's favorite. She has two daughters of her own who are close in age (one a year older and one a year younger) whose own relationship with their father was painful. I think it must have hurt her mother's heart to see her husband shower me with affection while her own daughters scarcely saw their own father. Well on this one occasion I remember her cutting the pig and when it came to me I could see her resistance. When she finally made a slice it was a sliver. My heart sank.

Times have changed. I've grown and so has my stepmother. In fact, in the last few years, I've grown to really love and appreciate her and she feels the same way about me. I think it is my understanding of forgiveness that has helped to take us to this wonderful place. In my journals I acknowledged my hurt feelings. In my writing and reflecting I realized that I'm no longer that 9 year old girl and she is no longer that mother with young children. One of my personal mottos from last year, meet people where they are at, is one that I will continue in this next year. Things that have happened in the past are to live in the past. We don't have to carry them forward with us. I've chosen to meet her where she is at today and she in turn is connecting with me in a way we would have never seen coming. I'm choosing to think back on the happy times and let those great feelings fill me up. Sure I may think back on those heart sinking moments, but I don't dwell on them.

This year the pig and knife were placed in front me of me. That's right I was given the honor of cutting the lucky pig. I quickly remembered the young girl who loves the taste of almond paste. wow...Wow...WOW! I looked down at the cute little figure and didn't know how big to cut the pieces. There were only three of us this year so I began by cutting the head and gave that choice looking piece to my dad. Next I cut a large barrel from the belly and handed it to my stepmother and I took the rump. As we held up our pieces as we did our glasses of the champagne just moments earlier I said, "You know all of the luck ran to the bottom of the pig and it's in my piece." No one has ever said that and we all had a good chuckle. I'm feeling pretty lucky and my outlook for 2012 is so very positive.

How about you? Are you feeling lucky? How is your outlook for 2012?

Cheers!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

 

Release Your Desire and Make Your Dreams Come True

DESIRE and DREAMS - there is a distinction. Desire is fueled by wants and emotions. Dreams on the other hand may be born out of a desire, but it transcends the emotion and is something much bigger. For example, I have some publishing dreams that grew out of my love for creating and writing. While the desire may help to move me to action, the volatile state of emotions is not to be relied upon. In fact, it has no staying power. Desire leads us to feel wanton and grasping at that which we don't have. Disappointment is lurking in the shadows when we are fueled strictly by desire.

We put HOPE into our DREAMS. This is grounded and will sustain us. WISHES, the dreamy, wistful declaration of our desires is flighty. Making wishes is helpful - helpful in releasing the hold of desire. Wishes can help define our dreams. But we must not mistaken the wish for the dream.

Are you feeling gripped by desire? Here is a visualization that I found helpful to release a recent unfulfilled desire:

Close your eyes and picture yourself holding a dandelion like the one pictured above.

Feel that desire running through your body.

Feel how it seems trapped inside with no place to go.

Now take a slow deep breath in through your nose.

Slowly and gently breath out through your mouth and picture the desire and your wishes blowing the dandelion. Watch in your mind's eye how the dandelion breaks apart.

In the same breath accelerate it and finish the breath strongly. 

Listen to the ssssshhhhhh sound as you release the desire into the world.

Continue to breath slowly only this time breath in and out of your nose. 

Follow the wave of breath, gently rolling in and out.

Imagine your breath soothing your insides bringing a sense of calm and deep relaxation.

When you are ready open your eyes and feel the weight of your desire lifted from your body.

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

21 Secrets - Registration is Now Open!

 

Registration is Now Open!

 

I'm so excited to be a part of the 21 Secrets Art Journal Playground. My workshop titled, "Let's Get Into Shape" is all about my secrets of how I use the design principle shape to create awesome collages. 

 

This online workshop is a great way to get your creative groove on with art journaling. 21 teachers and 21 secrets!

 

Get the details here!

 

Feel free to share this e-mail with your friends. I know they will love it too!

 

May this be a year of boundless creativity!

 

Kathryn, Collage Diva